Acts 15:30-16:5

New King James Version

Continuing Ministry in Syria

³⁰ So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. ³¹ When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. ³² Now Judas and Silas, themselves being ^(A)prophets also, ^(B)exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. ³³ And after they had stayed there for a time, they were ^(C)sent back with greetings from the brethren to ^[a]the apostles.

^34 [b]However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there. ^35 (D)Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.

Division over John Mark

³⁶ Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.” ³⁷ Now Barnabas ^[c]was determined to take with them ^(E)John called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul insisted that they should not take with them ^(F)the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. ³⁹ Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to ^(G)Cyprus; ⁴⁰ but Paul chose Silas and departed, ^(H)being ^[d]commended by the brethren to the grace of God. ⁴¹ And he went through Syria and Cilicia, ^(I)strengthening the churches.

Timothy Joins Paul and Silas

16 Then he came to ^(J)Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, ^(K)named Timothy, ^(L)the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. ² He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. ³ Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he ^(M)took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. ⁴ And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the ^(N)decrees to keep, ^(O)which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. ^5 (P)So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.